Blower connection and exhaust valve configuration for a cleaner or the like

ABSTRACT

A floor care appliance is provided with an exhaust valve and blower conversion arrangement in which the exhaust valve has high air flow passing characteristics. The exhaust valve includes a fixed, serpentine, vertically extending member and a movable, serpentine, vertically extending member. When the undulations on the two members coincide the valve is closed and blower conversion may be made. When the undulations do not coincide, the valve is open, thus offering a relatively unobstructed, large flow path for air exiting around the periphery of the cleaner.

United States Patent [191 Tschudy et al.

[ Dec. 9, 1975 BLOWER CONNECTION AND EXHAUST VALVE CONFIGURATION FOR ACLEANER OR THE LIKE [75] Inventors: Donald B. Tschudy, Canton; John L.

Fawcett, North Canton, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: The Hoover Company,North Canton, Ohio [22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 397,614

[52] US. Cl. 15/330 [51] Int. Cl. A47L 9/08 [58] Field of Search 15/328,330, 339

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Forsberg 15/330 X Acheson15/330 X Kasper l5/330 X Primary Examinerl-larvey C. Homsby AssistantExaminerC. K. Moore [57] ABSTRACT A floor care appliance is providedwith an exhaust valve and blower conversion arrangement in which theexhaust valve has high air flow passing characteristics. The exhaustvalve includes a fixed, serpentine, vertically extending member and amovable, serpentine, vertically extending member. When the undulationson the two members coincide the valve is closed and blower conversionmay be made. When the undulations do not coincide, the valve is open,thus offering a relatively unobstructed, large 'flow path for airexiting around the periphery of the cleaner.

11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 1 of63,924,291

US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 2 of6 3,924,291

U.S. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 3 of6 3,924,291

US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 5 of6 3,924,291

20 FIG. 6

20 FIG. 7 3o US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 6 of6 3,924,291

FIG. 8

BLOWER CONNECTION AND EXHAUST VALVE CONFIGURATION FOR A CLEANER OR THELIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION valve and blower conversion arrangementfor a vacuum 1 cleaner or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is old and well known in the cleanerart to provide blower conversion for the cleaner so that the same mayhave sufficient flexibility to permit use of the air stream produced bythe cleaner for blowing purposes such as the distribution of the vaporsof moth crystals, spray painting and the like. Cleaners with suchconversion, however, must still make provision for the exhaust ofcleaner air when the floor care appliance is utilized as a vacuumpick-up of household dirt, dust and debris. Ease of conversion andunobjectionable exhaust of suction cleaning air should be the primaryaims of these structures.

Cleaner conversion and exhaust air structures, in an attempt to meetthese goals, have included: cleaner structures without a conversionvalve in which both suction cleaner air and air for blower conversionexits from the cleaner through a single port or opening, adapted forhose connection; cleaners in which an internal valve directs exiting airselectively into one of a pair of passageways, one leading to a hoseconnector and the other leading to a separate exit means that maydischarge the air generally peripherally or locally of the cleanerhousing and cleaners having a valving means close to the cleanerdischarge which are converted, upon closing of the valve flow passagewayto discharge, to blower operation.

Each of these configurations, however, suffers somewhat from generatednoise, back pressure and the like, even under normal floor cleaningoperation. This is due to the relatively constricted, exiting cleanersuction air flow as it passes through the restricted conduitcrosssectional air of the single port or opening in a cleaner having noconversion valve or the conduit cross-sectional air of the openconversion valve in cleaners having the same.

The problems engendered by cleaner air flow rates then remain onlypartially solved and, considering the new high performance cleanerswhich are now entering the marketplace, become more critical each day asmanufacturers develop new, improved, higher performance cleaners forsale.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a vacuum cleaner whichhas blower conversion and yet provision in the valving thereof toaccommodate the high flow rates of modern cleaners.

It would be additionally advantageous to utilize a valving arrangementwhich acted in an area of the cleaner having potentially the largecross-sectional area so that the valves requisite dimensions to handle ahigh flow rate would easily be accommodated.

It would be further advantageous to provide an air exhaust valve for afloor care appliance having blower conversion in which the operativeparts of the exhaust valve had a minimal constrictive result on suctionair while the floor care appliance remained unconverted.

It would be still further advantageous to provide a novel flow valvewhich could handle large flow rate quantities in open condition, withminimum restriction and maximum conduit cross-sectional area due to itsperipheral flow area characteristics.

It would even be still further advantageous to provide a cleaner with asimple shut-off valve for cleaner exhaust air flowing radially in acircular passageway that flowed to a circumferential upward exhaustslot, such a 0 manner of exhaust inducing maximum ambient airentrainment with minimal sensible exhaust temperatures and velocities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is provided in a canistercleaner, as exemplary of a floor care appliance, with the same includingan exhaust valve and blower conversion arrangement disposed generallyperipherally near the cleaner bottom side.

The exhaust valve and blower conversion arrangement exhausts airperipherally around the bottom of the canister cleaner through anopening formed be tween a bottom supporting pan for the cleaner and thebottom of an intermediate shell which forms, in large part, thebag-receiving cavity of the cleaner. The exhaust valve has itsstationary sealing valve part disposed in the bottom surface of thebottom of the intermediate shell, with the same integrally formedtherein when the intermediate shell is press-formed during manufacture.

The stationary valve part takes the form of a downwardly extending,somewhat annular, closed peripheral Wall which, in plan view, has aseries of regular undulations that provide peaks and valleys in thisvalve part as they extend around the bottom of the intermediate shell toform their closed, serpentine loop. Mounted beneath this valve part isthe movable valve part that may be conveniently formed from a plasticmolding of generally annular shape that includes an integral upstandingwall that undulates as it extends around this valve part to form aclosed loop having, in plan view, a series of peaks and valleys. Thepeaks and valleys of the movable valve part, and thereby the generalcurvature of the upstanding wall, conform to the peaks and valleys andthereby general curvature of the depending wall on the intermediateshell, Thus, when the undulating, serpentine depending wall of theintermediate shell and the undulating, serpentine upstanding wall of theplastic molding are placed in an in-phase relationship, the bottom faceor termination of the depending wall of the stationary valve partsealingly abuts the upper face or termination of the upstanding wall ofthe movable valve part to provide a closed air volume sealingly trappedby the contiguous walls.

During normal cleaning operation, the movable valve part is spring urgedto an out-of-phase relationship with the fixed valve part so that thepeaks of one correspond to the valleys of the other and a flat portionof the valve base covers a bottom pan blower access port. This providesan extremely large flow path area that is enhanced by making thediameters of the fixed and movable valve parts large so that it placesthem radially outwardly (peripherally) of the fan and diffuser systemfor the canister cleaner, in the flow path of cleaner suction airimmediately prior to discharge of it outwardly of the cleaner.

Blower conversion is accomplished by movement of the movable valve partrotatably, through the aegis of an integral, radially extending levertab, until the inphase relationship is reached with the fixed valve partand the blower access port in the bottom pan is uncovered. A circularaperture that includes the female portions of a bayonet Connection isformed in the movable valve part, with this aperture located so that itconforms to a peak in the fixed valve part when the valve parts are inan in-phase relationship to permit insertion and confluent communicationbetween the closed volume formed by the walls of the two valve parts,the bottom pan, and a hose having a hose fitting with male portions of abayonet coupling. Blower conversion is then completed by insertion ofthe male hose connector through the bottom pan access port and intotwist-lock engagement with the aligned movable valve exhaust port.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference may now be had to the accompanyingdrawings for a better understanding of the invention, both as toitsorganization and function, with the illustration being of the preferredembodiment but only as exemplary, and in'which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a canister cleanerincorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the canister cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the canister cleaner taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1; r

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the canister cleaner taken on line4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, but showing the valveparts in an in-phase relationship;

' FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the inventiontaken generally on lines 66 of FIG. 4; I FIG. 7 is a fragmentarysectional elevational view of the invention taken generally on lines 7-7of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the inventiontaken on line 88 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the movable valve member in detached condition.

- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT cludes a housing 11, with ahinged lid 14 mounted to an intermediate housing shell 12. A bottompan16 and a medallion section 18 also cooperate to form housing A motor 20drives a fan system 22, including a pair of fans 24, 26, to provide asuction flow of cleaner air passing into cleaner through a hose couplingfitting 28. This hose coupling communicates with a chamber 30, enclosedby housing 11, in which a dirt-collecting bag 32 is disposed so as toseparate dust and dirt from the dirt-laden suction air so thatrelatively clean air may pass through the motor for cooling the same.This air then passes through the fan system 22 for peripheral dischargebetween a radially outer termination of the intermediate shell 12 andthe bottom pan 16 through an opening 34.

Cleaner 10 is transported over and supported above the floor by largerear wheels 44, 44 (only one shown) and front caster wheel 46, with ahandle 42 also providing a convenient grasping means for transportationof the canister cleaner 10.

Suction air flow within the cleaner is generally conventional, passingdownwardly through a secondary filter and, as set out, previously themotor 20. After passage through first stage fan 26, the flow of cleanerair passes through a first stage diffuser 52 of fan system 22 whichdirects the air flow, as indicated by the flow arrows, to an eye of thesecond stage fan 24, from whence air is discharged into a second stagediffuser 54 of fan system 22 that directs the cleaner air flow upwardly,axially relative to the fan system 22 into a tuming chamber 56, formedbetween a radially inward portion of the bottom face of intermediateshell 12 and an upper, outer periphery of second stage diffuser 54. Airflow is then through a passage 58, located between portions of thebottom face of intermediate shell 12 and portions of a top face ofbottom pan 16, to. eventual ambient discharge.

An auxiliary flow of cooling, induced, ambient air may be introduced tothe canister cleaner 10 to reduce, primarily, air discharge temperatureof 1 the total air flow discharged from the canister cleaner. Thisairmay conveniently enter the cleaner 10 through a series of ports 59 inthe bottom face of bottom: pan 16 and thence through a series of ports60 (note flow arrows).

in the bottom face of second stage diffuser 24. This air then movesalong a bottom face of the second stage fan 24 to mix with airdischarged from it as it passes through the diffuser.

A resilient mounting and sealing arrangement for the fan system 22 andmotor 20 is provided in the lower portions of the canister cleaner 10. Apair of vertically spaced, resilient, annular ring members 62 and 64perform this function. The lower of these resilient ring members is ringmember 62. It is disposed between a top face of the bottom pan 16 and abottom face of ,sec- 0nd stage diffuser 54 to. supportingly maintainthis diffuser and, through it, the fan system 22 and motor 20 in aresilient, vibration arresting relationship with the bottom pan 16. Theupper resilient ring 64 is mounted between the innermost portions of thebottom face of intermediate shell 12 and an upper face of a motor endsupport plate 66 so that the resilient ring 64 resiliently andvibrationally isolates the intermediate shell I 12 from the motor 20 andfan system 22. Thus, the resilient ring members 62, 64 form a sandwichabout the motor and fan system to cocoon the same relative to. outwardpassage of noise and vibration.

These two rings also effect an upper and lower sealing means for thecanister cleaner 10. A series of connecting nuts and studs 68, 68, 68(only one shown) maintain these resilient rings in a compressed sealingrelationship with the fan system 22 by being tightened to maintain theintermediate shell 12 and bottom pan 16 in a compact assemblage. Theseseals thereby prevent unwanted backflow and serious leakage of cleanerair inwardly and outwardly, respectively, relative to the fan system 22.

The inventive aspects of the instant Application will now be detailed,the environment in which thesame might be utilized having now just beendescribed. Exhaust valve and blower conversion means 70 is locatedbetween the bottom of the intermediate shell 12 and the top of thebottom pan 16 in the passageway 58 so as to be capable of controllingthe outward flow of discharge air from cleaner 10. As can be clearlyseen in FIG. 1, the exhaust valve and blower conversion means 70 islocated radially outwardly of the fan system 22 and extends around itoutwardly of its periphery adjacent the outer periphery of canistercleaner 10.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 through 9, it can be seen that a pair ofvertically transversely extending valve walls or dikes 72 and 74 areprovided in exhaust valve and blower conversion means 70. The valve wall72 may be formed in a conventional manner, in a bottom, generally flat,radially intermediate laterally extending portion of intermediate shell12 when the same is made by press-forming. This valve wall includes apair of tapered, radially spaced inner and outer portions 76, 78,respectively, that merge into a bottom portion 80 of widened extent soas to provide a seat for a top face 82 of valve wall 74. It should beapparent that when the top face 82 of valve wall 74 is in completeperipheral engagement with the bottom portion 80 of valve wall 72, thatair flow outwardly of the cleaner is restricted so that an air exitconnection that could be made to passage 58 will pass substantially allthe exit cleaner air generated by the fan system 22. In this manner,blower conversion (to be described later) for the canister cleaner 10 ishad.

Depending valve wall 72, because of its integral relationship withrelatively fixed intermediate shell 12 is the fixed valve part, whilevalve wall 74 is made the movable valve part by being made an integralportion of a relatively laterally extending movable valve means 83, themovable valve means 83 being mounted for guided rotation on the bottompan 16 through an annular, upstanding rib 84, integral with the bottompan and conveniently formed at the time of formation of bottom pan 16.

In order to provide a means for maintaining the movable valve means 83centered relative to the vertical axis of canister cleaner 10, themovable valve means 83 is generally flat but includes a downwardlyopening, grooved portion 86 that extends annularly, nearly the whole wayaround the approximately annular movable valve means 83, terminatingonly in the area utilized for blower conversion. This grooved portion,of course, receives the rib 84 of bottom pan 16 so that it is guided asaforesaid as movable valve means 83 is rotated. As the movable valvemeans rotates from the position illustrated in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, itopens exhaust valve and blower conversion means 70 to permit flow ofcleaner air to pass out through the cleaner exit opening 34. This isaccomplished in the following manner.

Each of valve wall portions 72 and 74 are in the form of an undulating,serpentine configuration of generally annular extent and closedconfiguration when viewed in plan, with the undulating, serpentinearrangement of each being similar to the other so that they may conformand have abutting edges when placed in an inphase relationship (e.g.,FIG. 5). At the same time, when the valve wall portions 72 and 74 are inan out-ofphase relationship (e.g., FIG. 2), the valve wall portions 72and 74 only have conforming abutment at widely spaced points on thebottom portion 80 and top face 82 of valve walls 72 and 74,respectively. Those crosssectional areas enveloped by those portions ofvalve walls 72 and 74 not in abutment are open to provide asignificantly large flow path for the passage of cleaner exhaust airoutwardly between the bottom of intermediate shell 12 and top face ofvalve 82 and on through opening 34.

More specifically, chain dashed line 88 (FIG. 4) has been drawn torepresent the mean circumference of the radial width of valve walls 72and 74. Thus, a series of valleys or inner radial portions 90 and 92 areformed by the valve walls 72, 74, respectively, inwardly of the meancircumference 88 and a series of peaks or outer radial portions 94 and96 are formed by the valve walls 72, 74, respectively, outwardly of themean circumference 86. The area between a peak on one of the valve partsand the valley on the other valve part, e.g., area 98 represents onesegment of the cross-sectional area of flow path for the exiting cleanerair. The total area available for exit air flow is, thus, the summationof the individual areas 98. An extremely large air flow is therebyprovided, relative to valve size, by the undulating, serpentineconfiguration of the valve walls or dikes so that relatively littlepressure drop and noise occurs due to valve-imposed flow restrictionresistance with the valve in open condition.

The movable valve means 83 is normally urged counterclockwise to aposition where the exhaust valve and blower converter means is fullyopen by a biasing means consisting of a tension spring 100 (FIG. 2) thatis mounted to a radially extending tab 102, integral with movable valvemeans 83. The opposite, fixed end of the spring 100 engages under astruck-out tab 104 formed on bottom pan 16 so that the spring has afixed reaction point to place it in resilient tension relative tomovable valve part 83. It should be noted that, in this position, a flat115 on movable valve means 83 covers a port 114 in the bottom pan toprevent air exit therethrough To rotate movable valve means 83 so thatmovable valve wall 7.4 is in closed relationship with fixed valve wall72, an additional radially extending, integral tab 106 is provided onmovable valve means 83. This tab extends outwardly past the radialoutward termination of the bottom plate 16, being bent to extendthereby, and through opening 34 so as to be easily graspable andmanipulatable by the user of the canister cleaner 10. The tab 106 thencan be manually manipulated clockwise to bring the valve walls 72 and 74into an in-phase relationship. In this location of the valve wallsblower conversion is made.

In FIGS. 2 and 4 it can be seen that one of the peaks on each of thevalve walls 72 and 74 is made slightly larger to provide a largerflattened area 108 on the movable valve means 83 to accommodate agenerally conventional, standard hose coupler l 10 having a standardfemale-type bayonet fitting 112 for connection to a hose 126. providedwith the male half of the bayonet fitting and utilizable for blowingpurposes. Connection to the hose coupler is made through the port 114extending through bottom pan 16, with a male bayonet hose coupler part128 extended through this port and lockingly coupled with hose coupler110. This locked coupling also prevents movable valve means 83 fromagain rotating counter-clockwise due to the biasing of spring 100, sincethe male hose coupling part abuts against the internal circularperiphery of hose coupler 110 to prevent it. Uncoupling of the blowinghose 126 from hose coupler 110 and its removal from port 114 againpermits movable valve means 83 to rotate counter-clockwise until theposition illustrated in FIG. 4 is reached. Port 114 is closed by a flatportion 115 of movable valve means 83 in this position so that all airflow is between the valve'walls 22 and 74 to exit 34.

In order to positively limit the travel of movable valve part 83, eithermanually or under the action of the biasing effect of spring 100, a pairof stops 116 and 118 are included in canister cleaner 10. Stop 116 isformed by one of the studs 68 and a spacer 120 mounted thereon, with thestud and included spacer, of course, fixed with respect to bottom pan16. The stop 116 is engageable with a ledge 122 integral with themovable valve means 83 to limit counter-clockwise rotation of this valvepart under the bias of spring 100.

Stop 118 is similarly formed by a stud 68 around which is a spacer 120.A second ledge 124, again formed integrally with movable valve means 83,may abut the stop 118 when the tab 106 is manually moved clockwise. Inthis abutting position overtravel of the movable valve means 83 isprevented and the bore 114 is aligned with the hose coupler 110.

It should be clear from the description offered that all the advantagesset out for the invention in the beginning of the description have beensatisfied. It should, further, be evident that many modifications couldbe made to the embodiment described which would still fall within itsspirit and purview.

What is claimed is:

1. An exhaust valve and blower conversion arrangement for use with afloor care appliance having a fan for inducing a flow of discharge airand an apertured housing section having a first aperture therein forproviding an exit, at least part of the time, for said discharge air andincluding;

a. a first relatively flat, laterally extending portion having a firstdike transversely extending therefrom,

b. a second relatively flat, laterally extending portion having a seconddike transversely extending therefrom, said first and second portionsbeing relatively movable,

c. said second relatively flat, laterally extending portion having asecond aperture extending therethrough, and

d. said first and second transversely extending dikes havingsubstantially closed configurations, in plan view, and being undulatingin their closed, configured extent whereby, when abutting conformance ofsaid undulations is effected alignment of said first and secondapertures is also effected said first and second apertures providing apassageway whereby said blower conversion is effectable.

2. The exhaust valve and blower conversion arrangement of claim 1wherein;

a. said undulations, upon assuming a non-abutting conformance, permitexit of discharge air therebetween in a substantially unimpeded manner.

3. An exhaust valve arrangement for a floor care appliance having a fanmeans providing a discharge air flow, the exhaust valve arrangementincluding;

a. a first member having a first dike extending therefrom,

b. a second member movable relative to the first and having a seconddike extending therefrom,

c. each of said dikes taking the form, in plan view, of

a closed configuration of a connected series of alternating radiallyinner and outer segments,

d. said closed configuration on each of said first and second membersbeing of the same shape so that, upon abutting conformance thereof,discharge air is prevented from passing therebetween, and

e. said closed configurations of connected series of radially inner andouter segments, when in nonabutting conformance, permitting the flow ofdischarge air therebetween.

4. The exhaust valve arrangement for a floor care appliance as set outin claim 3 wherein;

a. one of said first and second members includes a hose couplingstructure, and

b. when said dikes are in said abutting conformance, said hose couplingstructure receives discharge air therethrough.

5. The exhaust valve arrangement for a floor care appliance as set outin claim 4 wherein;

a. a hose and means for securing said hose is provided for securement tosaid hose coupling structure,

b. said means for securing said hose when attached to said hose couplingstructure abuttingly interfering with movement of one of said first andsecond members to non-abutting conformance with the other of saidmembers.

6. The exhaust valve arrangement for a floor care appliance as set outin claim 3 wherein;

a. one of said first and second members is biasingly maintained withsaid dikes in one of said abutting and non-abutting positions by aconnected resilient spring biasing arrangement.

7. The exhaust valve arrangement for a floor care appliance as set outin claim 3 wherein;

a. each of said connected series of radially inner and outer segmentsprovide a serpentine-like configuration to each of said dikes.

8. The exhaust valve arrangement for a floor care appliance as set outin claim 3 wherein;

a. said second member rotates relative to the first member, and

b. said dikes each take the general form of a closed annulus.

9. A cleaner having an exhaust valve and blower conversion arrangement,including;

a. a bottom member for said cleaner having an outer p p y b. a memberhaving a relatively flat portion disposed above said bottom member andforming a part of the bag-receiving cavity for said cleaner,

0. a fan system disposed between said bottom member and said flatportion,

(1. said fan system for said floor care appliance providing a flow ofdischarge air to a passageway extending outwardly between said bottommember and said relatively flat portion of said member disposed abovesaid bottom member,

said passageway also extending peripherally around said fan system, andf. a valve means for controlling the flow of discharge air through saidpassageway, including a portion of said passageway, wholly disposedradially outwardly of said fan system, and also extending peripherallyaround said fan system but within the space between said bottom memberand said flat portion whereby discharge air is discharged with lowerednoise and reduced back pressure as it passes through the valve meanswhen open because of the large valve flow area occasioned by theperipheral extent and placement of said valve means.

10. The cleaner having an exhaust valve and blower 60 conversion meansas set out in claim 9 wherein;

a. said valve means, including a portion of said passageway, includes avertically extending movable dike member and a vertically extendingfixed dike member, and

b. each of said dike members has a serpentine-like configuration in planview, capable of abutting conformance for preventing the discharge ofdischarge air therebetween.

10 c. a valve member extending annularly around said fan means anddisposedly mounted in said passageway means for movement relative tosaid passageway means to abuttingly conform with and move fromconformance with a portion of said passageway means surrounding said fanmeans, to alternately interrupt and permit surrounding peripheral exitflow of said discharge air.

1. An exhaust valve and blower conversion arrangement for use with afloor care appliance having a fan for inducing a flow of discharge airand an apertured housing section having a first aperture therein forproviding an exit, at least part of the time, for said discharge air andincluding; a. a first relatively flat, laterally extending portionhaving a first dike transversely extending therefrom, b. a secondrelatively flat, laterally extending portion having a second diketransversely extending therefrom, said first and second portions beingrelatively movable, c. said second relatively flat, laterally extendingportion having a second aperture extending therethrough, and d. saidfirst and second transversely extending dikes having substantiallyclosed configurations, in plan view, and being undulating in theirclosed, configured extent whereby, when abutting conformance of saidundulations is effected alignment of said first and second apertures isalso effected said first and second apertures providing a passagewaywhereby said blower conversion is effectable.
 2. The exhaust valve andblower conversion arrangement of claim 1 wherein; a. said undulations,upon assuming a non-abutting conformance, permit exit of discharge airtherebetween in a substantially unimpeded manner.
 3. An exhaust valvearrangement for a floor care appliance having a fan means providing adischarge air flow, the exhaust valve arrangement including; a. a firstmember having a first dike extending therefrom, b. a second membermovable relative To the first and having a second dike extendingtherefrom, c. each of said dikes taking the form, in plan view, of aclosed configuration of a connected series of alternating radially innerand outer segments, d. said closed configuration on each of said firstand second members being of the same shape so that, upon abuttingconformance thereof, discharge air is prevented from passingtherebetween, and e. said closed configurations of connected series ofradially inner and outer segments, when in nonabutting conformance,permitting the flow of discharge air therebetween.
 4. The exhaust valvearrangement for a floor care appliance as set out in claim 3 wherein; a.one of said first and second members includes a hose coupling structure,and b. when said dikes are in said abutting conformance, said hosecoupling structure receives discharge air therethrough.
 5. The exhaustvalve arrangement for a floor care appliance as set out in claim 4wherein; a. a hose and means for securing said hose is provided forsecurement to said hose coupling structure, b. said means for securingsaid hose when attached to said hose coupling structure abuttinglyinterfering with movement of one of said first and second members tonon-abutting conformance with the other of said members.
 6. The exhaustvalve arrangement for a floor care appliance as set out in claim 3wherein; a. one of said first and second members is biasingly maintainedwith said dikes in one of said abutting and non-abutting positions by aconnected resilient spring biasing arrangement.
 7. The exhaust valvearrangement for a floor care appliance as set out in claim 3 wherein; a.each of said connected series of radially inner and outer segmentsprovide a serpentine-like configuration to each of said dikes.
 8. Theexhaust valve arrangement for a floor care appliance as set out in claim3 wherein; a. said second member rotates relative to the first member,and b. said dikes each take the general form of a closed annulus.
 9. Acleaner having an exhaust valve and blower conversion arrangement,including; a. a bottom member for said cleaner having an outerperiphery, b. a member having a relatively flat portion disposed abovesaid bottom member and forming a part of the bag-receiving cavity forsaid cleaner, c. a fan system disposed between said bottom member andsaid flat portion, d. said fan system for said floor care applianceproviding a flow of discharge air to a passageway extending outwardlybetween said bottom member and said relatively flat portion of saidmember disposed above said bottom member, e. said passageway alsoextending peripherally around said fan system, and f. a valve means forcontrolling the flow of discharge air through said passageway, includinga portion of said passageway, wholly disposed radially outwardly of saidfan system, and also extending peripherally around said fan system butwithin the space between said bottom member and said flat portionwhereby discharge air is discharged with lowered noise and reduced backpressure as it passes through the valve means when open because of thelarge valve flow area occasioned by the peripheral extent and placementof said valve means.
 10. The cleaner having an exhaust valve and blowerconversion means as set out in claim 9 wherein; a. said valve means,including a portion of said passageway, includes a vertically extendingmovable dike member and a vertically extending fixed dike member, and b.each of said dike members has a serpentine-like configuration in planview, capable of abutting conformance for preventing the discharge ofdischarge air therebetween.
 11. An exhaust valve and blower conversionarrangement for a cleaner, the combination including; a. a fan means forgenerating a flow of discharge air for said cleaner, b. a passagewaymeans extending entirely around said fan means and formed by saidcleaner for providing For a surrounding peripherally extending exit forsaid flow of discharge air, c. a valve member extending annularly aroundsaid fan means and disposedly mounted in said passageway means formovement relative to said passageway means to abuttingly conform withand move from conformance with a portion of said passageway meanssurrounding said fan means, to alternately interrupt and permitsurrounding peripheral exit flow of said discharge air.